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R. ELDER & T. G. KENNEDY. APPARATUS FOR LOADING CARS.

- APPLICATION FILED SEPT-10,1907- Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

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R. ELDER & T. G. KENNEDY. APPARATUS FOR LOADING CARS.

v APPLICATION FILED SEPT- I0, 1907- 1,1 95,568.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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R. ELDER & T. c. KENNEDY. APPARATUS FOR LOADING CARS.

APPLICATION. FILED SEPT- IU, 190]- 1,195,568. Patented Aug. 22,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R. ELDER & T. C. KENNEDY.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-10. 1907.

1 195,568. Patented Aug. 22,1916.

, 5 SHEETSSHEET 4. PM, I. GE, 7

R. ELDER & T. G. KENNEDY. APPARATUS FOR LOADING CARS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 10, 1907.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

UZOSS/ I .346 34633 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

@FFTQE.

ROBERT ELDER, OF LA GRANGE, AND THOMAS G. KENNEDY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOBS TO FAIRBANKS, MORSE & COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPO- RATION OF ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING CARS.

messes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916..

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT ELDER, residing at La Grange, Illinois, and THOMAS G. KENNEDY, residing at Chicago, Illinois, 'both citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Loading Cars, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide apparatus whereby railway 'cars can be'conveniently loaded to their full capacity, the invention having more particularly in view the loading of such cars withcoal, though of course the apparatus can be employed for handling'other commodities. It will "be understood that the simple depositing of such a commodity as coal through the side of a box car by means of the ordinary chute cannot result in filling the ends of the car and waste spaces are necessarily left. The present invention provides means whereby these end spaces are reached and whereby the same level can be obtained at theends as at the middle of the car and such level carried as high as the roof of the car or practically so. -The invention also provides for adapting the loading apparatus to various heights of cars, for varying the top levelof the load as desired and for regulating the velocity of discharge of the commodity being handled when the same is being introduced into the Vith the above stated object in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations or parts the essential elements whereof are made the subject of appended claims and a preferred form of embodiment of. which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically described hereinafter.

Of saiddrawings Figure 1 represents in side elevation an apparatus embodying the invention, the same being shown in association with a railway box car, the latter appearing in section; Fig. 2 represents for the most part a top plan view of the apparatus in (30111186131011 with a horizontal section of the car; Fig. 8 represents a vertical section of a portion of the apparatus, on a somewhat enlarged scale as compared with Fig. 1; Fig. 4 represents a rear GlGVZttIOD of part of the apparatus; "Fig. 5 represents a vertical cross section of the central portion of the apparatus; and Fig.- 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 6,6 of Fig. 5.

Referring first to Fig. l the reference nu Jneral 2 designates the side of an ordinary coal bin and?) a railway box car on a track running along side said bin. On the latter are secured suitable rail -15, supporting a traveling framework 6 having rollers 7-8 engaging said rails respectively. The rails are preferably formed of angle irons and the lower rollers 7 have V-shaped peripheries engaging the angle of the lower rail while the upper rollers 8 are grooved to engage the rail 5, the latter being set oppositely to the lower rail. The frame 6 pro Jec'ts outwardly from the side of the bin far enough to approach somewhat closely the side of the railway car and this frame carries the loading apparatus. The ordinary double chute 9 is hinged to arms 10 of said frame 6, said chutes being adapted to receive the coal from the bin and distribute 1t to other 'chutes hereinafter described which convey the coal into the car. These other chutes are designated 11 and 12 respectively and are rigid and semi-circular in form and of the length so as to extend into the door of the car and then laterally toward the end portions thereof as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The outlet portions of the double chute 9 rest by gravity upon the bottoms-of the chutes 11 and 12 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 and it will be seen that coal coming :down the chute 9 and passing into the chutes 11 and 12 will be carried thereon by reason 'of its momentum to the opposite ends of the car. Each of the chutes 11 and 12 is preferably constructed of angle irons 13, a base plate 14: and a lining 15 which is extended upward on the 'outer side of the semi-circle so as to form-a guard preventing escape of the coal over this side of the chute.

' The curved chutes above described which are arranged to extend away from each other toward opposite ends of the car lie in the same :plane with each other and means are provided for moving them in the'direction of their curvature so as to project their outlet ends as far as need be toward the ends of the car in order to completely fill the latter and so as to be withdrawn gradually as the car fills. Means are also provided for raising and lowering these curved chutes to suit cars of different heights and for tilting the chutes to meet requirements in the matter of velocity of discharge and the level of the load in the car. Between the uprights 16 of the main frame 6 at the portion thereof nearest the car there is arranged a movable frame or structure 17, capable of vertical ad justment and having rollers 18 running against said uprights. This movable frame has bearings 19 for a shaft 20 and the latter carries a pair of spur gears or pinions 21.1neshing with curved racks 22, secured to the under sides of the chutes 11 and 12. A hand wheel 23 on the outer end of said shaft affords means for turning the same and thereby adjusting the chutes by moving them bodily in the direction of their curvature. The tilting of the chutes on the shaft 20 as an axis is accomplished by the turning of a second hand wheel 21 secured to a sleeve 25 journaled on the shaft 20. This sleeve carries a sprocket wheel 26 connected by a chain 27 with a sprocket wheel 28 The latter is secured to a shaft 29 journaled in suitable bearings on the under side of the movable frame and carrying a sprocket wheel 30 connected by a chain 31 with a sprocket wheel 32 011 a shaft 32 journaled in bearings on the under side of the movable frame. The shaft 32* carries beveled gears 33 meshing respectively with similar gears 31, the latter being adapted to engage screws 35 so that the turning of said gears will result in raising and lowering said screws.

7 The latter are jointed at their upper end to depending portions on the under sides of beams 36 which are located below and in planes parallel with the chutes 11 and 12 and are curved to correspond with the latter.

These curved beams have uprights 37 carrying plain rollers 38 on which the under sides of the chutes bear, and curved rollers 39 which engage over the sides of the chutes as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the rollers 38 and 39 constituting guides, with the result that the entire structure comprising chutes 11 and 12, beams 36, plates 37 and rollers 38 and 39 is capable of tilting on shaft 20 as an axis.

In order to compensate for the arc movement of the chutes and beams 36 when being tilted, the gears 34 are journaled in movable brackets 31 adapted to swing concentrically with the shaft 32 Said brackets are pivotally connected at one side with depending portions of stationary brackets 3 1 secured on the underside of the vertically movable frame or structure, and at the other side are journaled on the shaft 32 Screw-threaded bosses 34 of the gears 31 pass through the brackets and receive nuts 3% to hold the gears against longitudinal movement. 7

It will be seen that the turning of the hand wheel 21 in one direction will result in raising the chutes 11 and 12 in rear of the shaft 20 and the lowering of said chutes 11 and 12 forward of said shaft, the latterpractically constituting a fulcrum on which the chutes tilt. t V

The entire structure above described comprising chutes and means for longitudinally adjusting and tilting the same is adaptedto be raised and lowered by the raising and lowering of the elevator frame 16. Forthis purpose a third hand wheel 10 is provided, the same being secured to a drum all joinnaled on the sleeve25 as shown in Fig. 5. A cable 12 is attachedat one end to the drum 11 and after being wrapped a time or two therearound it passes upwardly to and over a pulley 13, thence across and above the m'ov- V able frame to and over a pulley 14: and thence down along tl'lG'QPPOSllJG side of the apparatus, such cable being attached at its other end to a bracket 17 a on the vertically sheave 52, Fig. 3, and winding on a pulley 53 to which is secured a smaller pulley 54 carrying a cable 55 attached'to the top of the frame 16. The pulleys 53 and 54: are secured on a suitable shaft 56'j0urnaledv in hearings on top of the framev 6, as shown" in Figs. 1, 3 and '1. In order to lock the vertically movable frame at different adjustments, a flange of the drum 4.1 is'nreferably notched as shown at 411 Fig. 5, and a gravity pawl 41" is arranged to engage the notches.

' It'will of course be understood that nor- 7 mally the curved chutes 11 and 12 will be fully withdrawn so that the main or traveling frame 6 can be moved along to any desired position or from car to car, or a car can be run up alongside the loading apparatus to the desired position. When the proper relative positioning of the traveling frame 6 and thecar is attained, the handwheel 23 will be operated to project the V curved chutes into the car and as far toward the ends thereof as may benecessary 'toginsure the complete filling of theend portions of the car. Then as the carfills, the wheel 23 will. be turned in theopposite direction so as to gradually withdraw'the chutes 11 and 12. In this manner'it will be obvious that the load can be'introducedi in such a way as to completely fill. the interior of the car. When handling such material as coal it is quite important to guard against breakage and it will be seen that with the above described means for varying the adjustments of the chutes and also by reason of the form of the latter this matter can be effectively cared for. Thus, though the coal will come down the chute 9 with great velocity, its velocity of discharge from the chutes 11 and 12 will be greatly decreased by reason of the frictional contact between the coal and. the high sides of the curved chutes. Thenthe chutes can be tilted at varying angles to attain the desired minimum velocity of discharge. The capability for vertical adjustment provides for varying heights of cars and desired levels of loads. It will be understood, as above stated, that the coal moves down the chute 9 with great velocity, with the result that the momentum of the coal is so great that it will move by its momentum along the curved chutes, 'even when the latter are in their horizontal position, as indicated in the full lines in Fig. 1, when the upper portions of the car are being filled. IVhile the apparatus has been shown in association with a box car, it is obvious that it can be employed with other types of cars or conveyances or repositories.

The above described apparatus is considered especially well calculated to thoroughly fulfil the objects primarily stated, but it is nevertheless to be understood that such apparatus is capable of considerable modifica tion without departing from the scope of the invention.

That is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for use in the loading of a car, the combination of a movable curved chute along which slides the material to be loaded, combined supporting and guiding means cooperating with the chute for supporting it in a normal plane and for guiding it in its movements, said means being outside the center of movement of the chute and substantially in the are formed thereby, and means for bodily moving the chute in the direction of its curvature, said chute being supported solely by said supporting and guiding means.

2. In apparatus for use in the loading of a car, the combination of a movable curved chute along which slides the material to be loaded, combined supporting and guiding means cooperating with the chute for supporting it in a normal plane and for guiding it in its movements, and means cooperating directly with the bottom of the chute for bodily moving it in the direction of its curvature, said chute being supported solely by said supporting and guiding means.

3. In apparatus for use in the loading of a car, the'combination of a movable curved chute along which slides the material to be loaded,opposed pairs of guides cooperating with the chute for holding it in a normal plane and for guiding it in its movements, and means for bodily moving the chute in said guide in the direction of its curvature.

4:. In apparatus for use in the loading of a car, the combination, with a main frame,

a movable frame adjustable therein, a

curved chute wholly supported in the latter frame and mounted to tilt therein, and means for moving the chute bodily in the direction of its curvature.

5. In apparatus for use in the loading of a car, the combination of a curved slidable chute along which slides the material to be loaded and which is open in a direction at right angles to its radius, guides above and below the chute for supporting it in a normal plane and for guiding it in its movements, and means for adjusting the position of the delivery end of the chute by movement thereof in the direction of its curvature.

6. In apparatus for use in the loading of a car, the combination of a pair of similar oppositely directed movable chutes along which slides the material to be loaded, combined supporting and guiding means cooperating with each chute for supporting it in a normal plane and for guiding it in its movements, said means being outside the center of movement of the chute and sub stantially in the arc formed thereby, chutes being mounted solely upon said supporting and guiding means for bodily movement independent of said means, and means cooperating with each chute for bodily mov ing it in the direction of its curvature.

7. In apparatus for use in the loading of a car, the combination of a pair of similar oppositely directed curved slidable chutes along which slides the material to be loaded, guides arranged above and below the chutes for securing them in position and for guiding them in their movements, and means for adjusting the chutes in unison by sliding them simultaneously and bodily in the direction of their curvature.

8. In apparatus for use in the loading of a car, the combination of a curved slidable chute along which slides the material to be loaded and which is open in a direction at right angles to its radius, means for supporting the chute, means for adjusting the position of the delivery end of the chute by movement thereof in the direction of its curvature, and means for bodily raising and lowering the chute and its supporting means to different desired levels.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a chute curved in a substantially horizontal plane, a support therefor, means for raising and lowering the support, guides mounted on the sup port substantially in the curve of the chute above and below the same and with reference to which the latter is adapted to reciprocate, and means for adjusting the chute longitudinally.

10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of oppositely directed curved slidable chutes movable in opposite directions, means for supporting the chutes, means for moving the same in unison in the direction of their curvature, and means for tilting said supporting means and the chutes in unison.

11. The combination of a main frame, vertical guides thereon, a vertically adjustable frame mounted in the guides, a tilting platform in the vertically adjustable frame, curved chutes mounted for longitudinal adjustment, guides for the chutes substantially in the line of the curves thereof, and means 2 for adjusting the chutes.

12. In apparatus of the class described, a main frame having vertical guides, a vertically adjustable frame mounted thereon, a tilting platform on the adjustable frame, curved chutes mounted for longitudinal adjustment on the tilting platform, roller supports beneath the chutes, and means for longitudinally .adjusting the chutes.

13. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a pair of oppositely curved slidable chutes arranged to slide bodily in the direction of their curvature, guides engaging the chutes for guiding and supporting them in their movements, racks on said chutes, and operating means cooperating with said racks for sliding the chutes in unison, said chutes being mounted solely on the guides.

14;. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a pair of oppositely curved slidable chutes arranged to slide bodily in the direction of their curvature, means for guiding and supporting the chutes in their movements, racks on said chutes, and an operating shaft provided with pinions adapted to engage said racks for sliding the chutes in unison, said chutes being mounted solely on said guiding and supporting means. 7

15. In apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination, with a main frame, amovable frame adjustable therein, curved chutes wholly supported in said movable frame and -mounted to tilt therein, and means for moving the chutes bodily in the direction of'their curvature.

16..In apparatus of the character described,the combination, with a main frame, a movable frame vertically adjustable therein, curved chutes wholly supported in said movable frame mounted to tilt, means for tilting said chutes, and means for moving them bodily in the direction of their curvature.

17.'In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a vertically movable frame, and curved chutes wholly supported thereby and mounted to tilt therein. 18. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame, a support mounted to tilt therein, curved chutes wholly carried by said support, and means for moving the chutes in the direction of their curvature. g

19. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame, a sup port mounted to tilt therein, curved chutes carried by said support, a shaft havingopcrating connections for moving the chutes in the direction of their curvature, said support and chutes being arranged to tilt. on the shaft as an axis. r v

20. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame, a support mounted to tilt therein, curved chutes carried by said support, a manually operable shaft, and rack and pinion connections between such shaft and the chutesfor moving the latter in the direction'of their .cur-

vature. V

21. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame, a support mounted to tilt therein, a pair of curved chutes wholly carried by said support, and means intermediate said support and chutes whereby the latter are supported but permitted to have a movement in the direction of their curvature.

In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame, a support mounted to tilt therein, a pair of'curved chutes, and means intermediate said support and chutes whereby the latter are'supported but permitted to have a movement in the direction of their curvature, compris- 7 mg a series of rollers carried by said support and bearing respectively against the top and bottom of the chutes.

28. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame, a support mounted to tilt therein, a pair of curved chutes, and means intermediate said support and chutes whereby the latter are supported but permitted to have a movement in the direction of their curvature, comprising a series of rollers arranged in pairs andcarried by said support, the lower pairs, "of rollers being plain and bearing against the bottoms of the chutes and the upper pairs of rollers being grooved to engage the top edges of the chutes.

24-. In apparatus of the character described, the combinatlon of a fram'e,a' sup port mounted to tilt therein, curved chutes wholly carried by said support, and means for tilting the support and holding the same in different adjusted positions. 7

25. In apparatus of the character de- 7 able connections between said support and frame for tilting the support and holding the same in different adjusted positions.

26. In apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a frame, a support mounted to tilt therein, curved chutes carried by said support, and adjusting screws connecting between the support and frame for tilting the support and holding the same in different adjusted positions.

27. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a main frame, a movable frame mounted therein for vertical adjustment, a support mounted to tilt in the movable frame, curved chutes wholly car ried by said support and arranged to tilt therewith, and means for moving the chutes in the direction of the curvature.

28. In apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a tilting support hung on the shaft, a curved chute wholly mounted solely on said support and slidable bodily in the direction of its curvature, and means for adjusting the latter to different angles.

29. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a tilting support hung on the shaft, a longitudinally movable chute mounted on said support, and means for moving the chute by the turning of the shaft.

30. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a tilting support hung on the shaft, a longitudinally movable chute mounted on said support, means foradjusting the latter to different angles, and means for moving the chute by the turning of the shaft.

31. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a tilting support hung on the shaft, a pair of oppositely turned curved chutes mounted solely upon said support and slidable bodily in the direction of their curvature, and means for tilting the latter.

32. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a tilting support hung on the shaft, a pair of oppositely turned chutes mounted upon said support and longitudinally movable, and means for moving the chutes longitudinally by the turning of sa1d shaft.

33. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame, a shaft carried thereby, a tilting support hung on the shaft, a pair of oppositely turned chutes mounted upon said support and longitudinally movable, means for tilting the lat ter, and means for moving the chutes longitudinally by the turning of said shaft.

34. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a chute, a tilting support therefor, a screw connected to said support, a gear wheel turning on said screw, a gear wheel engaging said first mentioned gear wheel, a shaft, a hand wheel thereon, and sprocket gearing connecting said shaft with the last mentioned gear wheel.

35. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of an elevator structure, a shaft carried thereby and having gears secured to it, chutes having racks in mesh with said gears, a guiding support for said chutes engaging above and below the same, screws connected to said support at one side, a sleeve journaled on the said shaft, gearing connecting said sleeve with said screws for tilting said support, a drum journaled on said sleeve, a cable winding on said drum and connected with the elevator, and a counterbalance for the latter.

36. I11 apparatus of the character described, the combination of a vertically movable frame, a shaft carried thereby, a support mounted in the frame and arranged to tilt therein on the shaft as an axis, curved chutes carried by said support, operating connections between the shaft and chutes for moving the latter in the direction of their curvature, adjustable connections between the tilting support and the frame, a rotatable sleeve mounted on the shaft, and operating mechanism between said sleeve and said adjustable connections.

37. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a vertically movable frame, a shaft carried thereby, a support mounted in the frame and arranged to tilt therein on the shaft as an axis, curved chutes carried by said support, operating connections between the shaft and chutes for moving the latter in the direction of their curvature, adjustable connections between the tilting support and the frame, a rotatable sleeve mounted on the shaft, operating mechanism between said sleeve and said adjustable connections, a counterbalance with a cable connected to the movable frame, a drum mounted on the shaft, and a cable wound around the drum and anchored at one end thereto and at the other end to the movable frame whereby upon rotating the drum the movable frame is raised or lowered.

38. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a vertically movable frame, a shaft carried thereby, a sup port mounted in the frame and arranged to tilt therein on the shaft as an axis, curved chutes carried by said support, operating connections between the shaft, and chutes for moving the latter in the direction of their curvature, a series of three hand wheels on the shaft, one of which is secured thereto, to operate said connections and the other two of which are journaled thereon, operating connections between one of said two hand wheels and the tilting support,

and operating connections between the third wheels on the frame having peripheries hand wheel and the frame for adjusting conical in cross section to travel in the inner the same vertically. angle of the lower track.

39. In apparatus of the character de- ROBERT ELDER. scribed, the combination of a bin having THOMAS G. KENNEDY. on an outer wall upper and lower tracks WVitnesses as to Elder: of angle iron form, a frame Work supported J. A. KINNEY, by and adapted to travel on said tracks, a RoscoE C. BAKER. chute on said frame work, an upper set of \Vitnesses as to Kennedy: grooved wheels on the frame to engage an MARTIN COSTELLO, edge of the upper track, and a lower set of JOSEPH HOKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). O. 

